Fatigue
Felt quite tired today. Sleepiness followed me the whole day through.
Shopping
Managed to do a bit of walking around. As usual, things that I like do not have my size. It really is sometimes quite difficult for me to buy clothes in Europe. They don’t have my size!!
Stopped for a quick snack at McDonald’s and got myself a small little hamburger for $1 euro. :) A small hamburger is even cheaper than a small cup of iced lemon tea. The latter costs $1.60 euro!
Quarrel
Hahahha…each time I travel to Europe, I am sure to witness two people quarrelling. Transcribed here…
Woman 1: Arrete! Ca suffit!
Woman 2: *continues shouting*
Woman 1: Je vous dit ARRETE! CA SUFFIT!
Woman 2: Demener! Demener! Putain! Baisser-vous! *shouts more stuff which I can’t pick out*
Woman 1: Quelle impolitesse!!!
Woman 2: SALOPE! SA CHIEN! Depece-vous!
In English…as far as I can translate:
Woman 1: Stop! It’s enough1
Woman 2: *continues shouting*
Woman 1: I told you to stop! It’s enough!
Woman 2: Off with you! Off with you! Whore! Fuck you!
Woman 1: What rudeness!
Woman 2: Bitch! Dog! Tear yourself up!
Bear in mind, Woman 2 was carrying a young child. Wonder if the child spends each day listening to his mother shout vulgarities.
Dinner
A kind soul gave me a voucher to one of the restaurants at the meeting venue. 3-course dinner for two with drinks. The meal was lovely. Salad with prawns and truffles. Lobster bisque. Terrine of crab, sea urchin and fish. Risotto with truffles. Rositto with prawns and champagne.
If you don’t know that many people. It helps to know someone who knows many people. :) A Malaysian friend passed me the voucher because he couldn’t make it.
Land of weed? Window-shopping?
Heading to Amsterdam on Friday morning. I’d better get a good sleep tonight. Was trying to squeeze everything back into my luggage. Seemed to be working out well. Till I realized I still have two bags of toiletries to throw in. Uh oh. If I buy more stuff in Amsterdam I’ll need to activate my extra luggage bag.
Friday, June 25, 2010
23 June 2010 Wednesday
Meetings
It was a day of one-to-one chats with many different people. Started my morning with a meeting with two German folks, one of them was born in India but migrated to Germany since young. Rushed off to a conference session and then snuck out of it halfway to meet up with a French guy. Quite cute actually haha. Had lunch with a Dutch and two Belgians. Spent the rest of the afternoon in another conference session and before I found myself at dinner sitting with some Taiwanese, a Chinese, a Laotian, a Filipino, a Dane, a Greek and a Czech.
I love the international crowd at these ICANN meetings.
Gala Dinner
Voila, the gala dinner this time round was held in a chateau. Castle in French.
Le Chateau de Grand-Bigard. We were ferried in coaches and it took about 30-40 minutes to reach the place from the meeting venue. About 800 of us all were there.
We were greeted by men dressed in court jester suits of red, yellow and black, Belgium’s colours. Some were on stilts walking around, some were playing drums, some were on trumpets. Some were flame-throwers, some were with eagles perched on their shoulders. And all of them were there to greet us.
It was a lovely place. An old castle and its towers made of red brick and wooden beams, surrounded by a big lake. Within its compounds were smaller lakes with small rose gardens surrounding them.
We had dinner in a specially built marquee which had transparent see-through plastic ceiling and walls. Because it does not get dark till 1030pm at this time of the year in Belgium, we were eating dinner in broad daylight.
Sole with sautéed vegetables, cream of sea urchin and artichokes, grilled heart of turbotin, chocolate fondant with vanilla ice-cream and fresh mint tea. And of couse, red wine, white wine, still water, sparkling water.
There was a live band there and they sang oldies like “Peggy Sue”, “The Twist”, etc. But my favourite moment came when they slowed it down and sang Ray Charles’ “Georgia”. God that made me immediately wish K were there with me in that tranquil setting.
One of the best ICANN gala dinners I’ve been to.
It was a day of one-to-one chats with many different people. Started my morning with a meeting with two German folks, one of them was born in India but migrated to Germany since young. Rushed off to a conference session and then snuck out of it halfway to meet up with a French guy. Quite cute actually haha. Had lunch with a Dutch and two Belgians. Spent the rest of the afternoon in another conference session and before I found myself at dinner sitting with some Taiwanese, a Chinese, a Laotian, a Filipino, a Dane, a Greek and a Czech.
I love the international crowd at these ICANN meetings.
Gala Dinner
Voila, the gala dinner this time round was held in a chateau. Castle in French.
Le Chateau de Grand-Bigard. We were ferried in coaches and it took about 30-40 minutes to reach the place from the meeting venue. About 800 of us all were there.
We were greeted by men dressed in court jester suits of red, yellow and black, Belgium’s colours. Some were on stilts walking around, some were playing drums, some were on trumpets. Some were flame-throwers, some were with eagles perched on their shoulders. And all of them were there to greet us.
It was a lovely place. An old castle and its towers made of red brick and wooden beams, surrounded by a big lake. Within its compounds were smaller lakes with small rose gardens surrounding them.
We had dinner in a specially built marquee which had transparent see-through plastic ceiling and walls. Because it does not get dark till 1030pm at this time of the year in Belgium, we were eating dinner in broad daylight.
Sole with sautéed vegetables, cream of sea urchin and artichokes, grilled heart of turbotin, chocolate fondant with vanilla ice-cream and fresh mint tea. And of couse, red wine, white wine, still water, sparkling water.
There was a live band there and they sang oldies like “Peggy Sue”, “The Twist”, etc. But my favourite moment came when they slowed it down and sang Ray Charles’ “Georgia”. God that made me immediately wish K were there with me in that tranquil setting.
One of the best ICANN gala dinners I’ve been to.
22 June 2010 Tuesday
Shower
My shower is schizophrenic and literally goes from hot to cold in 2 seconds. I thought I was the only one who was fighting with the shower on a daily basis. Turned out that some others I spoke to who stayed elsewhere also had the same experience. Hmm…are all showers in Belgium schizo?
Faces
It is interesting how Caucasians can recognize me and remember my name after only one short encounter. Sometimes I can’t tell them apart and only remember who they are after taking a quick discreet glance at their name badges. Think I need to buck up on my “face recognition” skills. ;p
European Men
European men are cute...:) The younger ones at least. Brunettes are the cutest.
And European men hold doors open for you, let you go into the lift first, let you get out of the lift first, let you pay at the cashier first, let you take the food first at a buffet line, let you get on the escalator first, etc.
European Women
The women are beautiful. Great features and great figures for some of them. Others look good from the neck upwards but the body proportions below the neck are way too....um, big. I love the way their noses are sharp, their eyes are large, their mouths are large and their necks are long and graceful.
My shower is schizophrenic and literally goes from hot to cold in 2 seconds. I thought I was the only one who was fighting with the shower on a daily basis. Turned out that some others I spoke to who stayed elsewhere also had the same experience. Hmm…are all showers in Belgium schizo?
Faces
It is interesting how Caucasians can recognize me and remember my name after only one short encounter. Sometimes I can’t tell them apart and only remember who they are after taking a quick discreet glance at their name badges. Think I need to buck up on my “face recognition” skills. ;p
European Men
European men are cute...:) The younger ones at least. Brunettes are the cutest.
And European men hold doors open for you, let you go into the lift first, let you get out of the lift first, let you pay at the cashier first, let you take the food first at a buffet line, let you get on the escalator first, etc.
European Women
The women are beautiful. Great features and great figures for some of them. Others look good from the neck upwards but the body proportions below the neck are way too....um, big. I love the way their noses are sharp, their eyes are large, their mouths are large and their necks are long and graceful.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
21 June 2010 Monday
Meeting
It is always nice to see a familiar face. Met up with some people whom I’ve not seen for quite awhile. Met some other new people, including a Frenchman whom I managed to have a few sentences of French with haha. And I’ve arranged a number of meetings with yet some others.
Food
Breakfast was usual. Nothing special. Lunch was cup noodles. But in the evening, I had a cocktail reception and managed to grab some finger food. These included beef carpaccio, beef tartare, some salmon thing served on a Chinese spoon, some other fish paste served on small round biscuits and of course the famous Belgian fries. Dinner was a treat from a Taiwanese uncle. And I had a beef patty with alfalfa salad.
Cobblestone Paths
I used to love cobblestone paths. That 17th century feel that they add to the environment. The character that they add to the roads and streets. My love for these paths is decreasing quite rapidly though.
Try walking 7-8 minutes from the hotel to the meeting venue and struggling to walk on these paths on heels. ARGH!!!
Chocolates
An ubiquitous snack. Abundant. I think I’ve eaten more chocolate in these 2-3 days than for the whole of the past 3 months.
K
I wish K was here with me. :( I see chocolates and I think of him. I walk back to my hotel wishing he was there to hold my hand. And whenever I take pictures, I wish he was right there to see what I am seeing, to experience what I am feeling.
Service Staff
If the common idea is that service staff in France have horrible and snobbish service, then those in Brussels are much worse. Yesterday’s waiter cleared our plates without asking us if we still wanted our food. And the plates were clanking noisily against each other. Some food crumbs spilled out onto the table.
And then this evening there was an interesting exchange between the head waiter of the restaurant we went to and the Taiwanese uncle (TW) we had dinner with.
Waiter: Good Evening.
TW: For 3 people please.
Waiter: Good Evening. *Gives an attitude face*
TW: Um, for 3 people.
Waiter: Good Evening.
Me: Bon soir. (good evening in French)
Waiter: *nods and acknowledges me with a smile*
TW: Err.
Waiter: I said good evening to you. You need to say good evening to me!!! Before I will find a table for you!!!
TW: Oh, good evening.
Waiter: Ok.
TW: 3 people please.
Waiter: You need to wait an hour.
TW: *looks at me*
I stepped into the conversation with my broken French and managed to get us a table for 3. Outside the restaurant that is. Out in the open in a temperature of about 12degrees. Oh well, at least we had a table haha.
It is always nice to see a familiar face. Met up with some people whom I’ve not seen for quite awhile. Met some other new people, including a Frenchman whom I managed to have a few sentences of French with haha. And I’ve arranged a number of meetings with yet some others.
Food
Breakfast was usual. Nothing special. Lunch was cup noodles. But in the evening, I had a cocktail reception and managed to grab some finger food. These included beef carpaccio, beef tartare, some salmon thing served on a Chinese spoon, some other fish paste served on small round biscuits and of course the famous Belgian fries. Dinner was a treat from a Taiwanese uncle. And I had a beef patty with alfalfa salad.
Cobblestone Paths
I used to love cobblestone paths. That 17th century feel that they add to the environment. The character that they add to the roads and streets. My love for these paths is decreasing quite rapidly though.
Try walking 7-8 minutes from the hotel to the meeting venue and struggling to walk on these paths on heels. ARGH!!!
Chocolates
An ubiquitous snack. Abundant. I think I’ve eaten more chocolate in these 2-3 days than for the whole of the past 3 months.
K
I wish K was here with me. :( I see chocolates and I think of him. I walk back to my hotel wishing he was there to hold my hand. And whenever I take pictures, I wish he was right there to see what I am seeing, to experience what I am feeling.
Service Staff
If the common idea is that service staff in France have horrible and snobbish service, then those in Brussels are much worse. Yesterday’s waiter cleared our plates without asking us if we still wanted our food. And the plates were clanking noisily against each other. Some food crumbs spilled out onto the table.
And then this evening there was an interesting exchange between the head waiter of the restaurant we went to and the Taiwanese uncle (TW) we had dinner with.
Waiter: Good Evening.
TW: For 3 people please.
Waiter: Good Evening. *Gives an attitude face*
TW: Um, for 3 people.
Waiter: Good Evening.
Me: Bon soir. (good evening in French)
Waiter: *nods and acknowledges me with a smile*
TW: Err.
Waiter: I said good evening to you. You need to say good evening to me!!! Before I will find a table for you!!!
TW: Oh, good evening.
Waiter: Ok.
TW: 3 people please.
Waiter: You need to wait an hour.
TW: *looks at me*
I stepped into the conversation with my broken French and managed to get us a table for 3. Outside the restaurant that is. Out in the open in a temperature of about 12degrees. Oh well, at least we had a table haha.
20 June 2010 Sunday
Breakfast
I was amazed by the different types of cheeses, butter and sauces they had. They were all in little convenient packages. Whether wrapped in foil or housed in a plastic container, all the sauces, butter and cheeses looked very good and I was tempted to grab a handful of each type to bring home to SG. Hmmmm…maybe I’ll do that on another morning when no waiter is looking hehe….
They had a whole spread of lovely breads as usual…and butter croissants and my favourite chocolate brioche! Whee!
Weather
Cold. Cloudy. Rainy. Windy. Chilly.
12 degrees at 5pm in the afternoon and about 10 degrees or less in the night.
BRRRRR….
Shower
Nothing beats having a lovely hot shower after having spent hours out in the cold. :)
Sights
I went to see the Manneken Pis today. It’s a small bronze statue of a little curly haired boy who is taking a piss. Cute. Really cute. And it was really amusing to see throngs of people elbowing each other to get a chance to take a picture of this little bronze boy. :) I was one of them. Ahem. Hehe.
I was amazed by the different types of cheeses, butter and sauces they had. They were all in little convenient packages. Whether wrapped in foil or housed in a plastic container, all the sauces, butter and cheeses looked very good and I was tempted to grab a handful of each type to bring home to SG. Hmmmm…maybe I’ll do that on another morning when no waiter is looking hehe….
They had a whole spread of lovely breads as usual…and butter croissants and my favourite chocolate brioche! Whee!
Weather
Cold. Cloudy. Rainy. Windy. Chilly.
12 degrees at 5pm in the afternoon and about 10 degrees or less in the night.
BRRRRR….
Shower
Nothing beats having a lovely hot shower after having spent hours out in the cold. :)
Sights
I went to see the Manneken Pis today. It’s a small bronze statue of a little curly haired boy who is taking a piss. Cute. Really cute. And it was really amusing to see throngs of people elbowing each other to get a chance to take a picture of this little bronze boy. :) I was one of them. Ahem. Hehe.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
19 June 1100pm Brussels time, 500pm SG time
Wingtips
It took me a grand total of 17 hours to reach Brussels. Including transit time.
I watched three shows on the plane:
- How to Train Your Dragon (love it)
- From Paris With Love (zzz, wonder how come John Travolta accepted this role)
- 14 Blades (I love Donnie Yen!!!)
First Impression
Brussels is not exactly a bustling place. Compared to some other cities I’ve been to, I think Brussels lacks character. But anyway, this is just the first day. Hope I’ll be able to see more of what Brussels has to offer. :)
Food
So far, I’ve tried the mussels and fries, omelette and meatballs in tomato sauce. Not too bad.
Weather
Horrid. Cloudy, windy, rainy. I forgot to bring my gloves and my umbrella.
Anecdotes
Waiter: Bon soir! Where are you from?
Me: Singapore
Waiter: Oh! Malaysia? No?
Me: No, we’re next to Malaysia.
Waiter: Oh! Your capital is Taipei. No?
Me: No. We’re a small country. In fact, we’re so small we don’t have a capital city. The whole country is the city itself.
Waiter: Oh! Ok. Enjoy your meal sil vous plait!
Shopping
Found my favourite H&M store. Managed to grab some stuff...:)
Will go back again to the same street. I saw Pimkie, Jennyfer and Bershka..Can't wait to go to these stores...
It took me a grand total of 17 hours to reach Brussels. Including transit time.
I watched three shows on the plane:
- How to Train Your Dragon (love it)
- From Paris With Love (zzz, wonder how come John Travolta accepted this role)
- 14 Blades (I love Donnie Yen!!!)
First Impression
Brussels is not exactly a bustling place. Compared to some other cities I’ve been to, I think Brussels lacks character. But anyway, this is just the first day. Hope I’ll be able to see more of what Brussels has to offer. :)
Food
So far, I’ve tried the mussels and fries, omelette and meatballs in tomato sauce. Not too bad.
Weather
Horrid. Cloudy, windy, rainy. I forgot to bring my gloves and my umbrella.
Anecdotes
Waiter: Bon soir! Where are you from?
Me: Singapore
Waiter: Oh! Malaysia? No?
Me: No, we’re next to Malaysia.
Waiter: Oh! Your capital is Taipei. No?
Me: No. We’re a small country. In fact, we’re so small we don’t have a capital city. The whole country is the city itself.
Waiter: Oh! Ok. Enjoy your meal sil vous plait!
Shopping
Found my favourite H&M store. Managed to grab some stuff...:)
Will go back again to the same street. I saw Pimkie, Jennyfer and Bershka..Can't wait to go to these stores...
18 June 1145pm SG time
Changi Terminal 3
Even before I left home for the airport, I was already missing K although he was still right next to me. When I went past the immigration counters and looked back to wave at him, I really felt quite sad.
Even before I left home for the airport, I was already missing K although he was still right next to me. When I went past the immigration counters and looked back to wave at him, I really felt quite sad.
Friday, June 04, 2010
Vandalism
And so, a 33-yr-old Swiss national has been detained for allegedly vandalizing an SMRT train. The graffiti spanned the length of an entire train carriage.
Micheal Fay suddenly popped into my mind. His much publicised case happened back in 1994 and I found it amusing that wikipedia actually had a whole entry on the case.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_P._Fay
Micheal Fay suddenly popped into my mind. His much publicised case happened back in 1994 and I found it amusing that wikipedia actually had a whole entry on the case.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_P._Fay
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
for-ren-ners
Just a few nights ago, K was sharing with me a somewhat heated discussion he had with a friend of his. It was on a sensitive topic. One that has been on the minds of many Singaporeans in recent months and maybe even the last year or two.
The issue of foreigners living and working in Singapore.
K asked me what my take was on the subject.
I remember replying him and saying that I am fine with these foreigners coming to Singapore.
That is, provided they don’t bring with them their bad habits, bad attitudes, and vices. I am fine with them living and working in Singapore, everyone is just trying to make a living. But when on our soil, they should respect our country, our culture and our ways of doing things.
I read with horror the recent Kallang slash-and-rob cases. A group of Sarawakians killed a man, left 2 in ICU and one young man with half his hand sliced off. All for the grand amount of $400 and 3 mobile phones. What seemed like petty robbery crimes turned into malicious violent bloody attacks in the hands of this group of men. The attackers were young men too. 19, 22, 30 and so on...
What the hell? What were in their minds? What made them go on such a rampage?
And now we even need to be aware of domestic workers either turning violent or doing strange things or morphing into sexual predators. What with the recent cases of a 29-yr-old Indonesian maid holding a scissors to a baby and forcing its mother to buy her a ticket home, the 27-yr-old Indonesian maid sexually abusing a 12-yr-old boy, a 30-something Fillipino maid putting detergent into the milk formulas of the two babies under her charge...and the list might just go on.
There have been increasing reports of foreigners being involved in crimes here. Some are victims, some are perpetrators. Some cases probably never even reach the news-stands.
You take the public transport and you'll hear the Chinese, Fillipinos and Koreans talking loudly, the Indians jostling with you, the Caucasians leaning on the railings, yada yada yada.
I'll admit it. I do view foreigners here with a wary, exasperated eye at times.
But even with all that said, I maintain, I am not writing all of them off just because of some bad apples.
I do know some of them on a personal basis and they are nice folks. Some speak now with a slight Singlish lilt, some sit at kopitiams reading newspapers and drinking kopi-o just like any of us, some buy groceries with us at NTUC, some buy 4D and toto....Englishmen still holding doors open for ladies and letting them go out of the elevators first. Domestic helpers who guard their charges as if they were their own children.
Others have chosen to make Singapore their home, some have married here, some have left but still come back to visit often because they thoroughly enjoyed their stay here.
I think it's great that these people have assimilated so well within our culture and get along with the locals well.
It's just those who don't bother to observe or understand our laws and ways who irk me.
The issue of foreigners living and working in Singapore.
K asked me what my take was on the subject.
I remember replying him and saying that I am fine with these foreigners coming to Singapore.
That is, provided they don’t bring with them their bad habits, bad attitudes, and vices. I am fine with them living and working in Singapore, everyone is just trying to make a living. But when on our soil, they should respect our country, our culture and our ways of doing things.
I read with horror the recent Kallang slash-and-rob cases. A group of Sarawakians killed a man, left 2 in ICU and one young man with half his hand sliced off. All for the grand amount of $400 and 3 mobile phones. What seemed like petty robbery crimes turned into malicious violent bloody attacks in the hands of this group of men. The attackers were young men too. 19, 22, 30 and so on...
What the hell? What were in their minds? What made them go on such a rampage?
And now we even need to be aware of domestic workers either turning violent or doing strange things or morphing into sexual predators. What with the recent cases of a 29-yr-old Indonesian maid holding a scissors to a baby and forcing its mother to buy her a ticket home, the 27-yr-old Indonesian maid sexually abusing a 12-yr-old boy, a 30-something Fillipino maid putting detergent into the milk formulas of the two babies under her charge...and the list might just go on.
There have been increasing reports of foreigners being involved in crimes here. Some are victims, some are perpetrators. Some cases probably never even reach the news-stands.
You take the public transport and you'll hear the Chinese, Fillipinos and Koreans talking loudly, the Indians jostling with you, the Caucasians leaning on the railings, yada yada yada.
I'll admit it. I do view foreigners here with a wary, exasperated eye at times.
But even with all that said, I maintain, I am not writing all of them off just because of some bad apples.
I do know some of them on a personal basis and they are nice folks. Some speak now with a slight Singlish lilt, some sit at kopitiams reading newspapers and drinking kopi-o just like any of us, some buy groceries with us at NTUC, some buy 4D and toto....Englishmen still holding doors open for ladies and letting them go out of the elevators first. Domestic helpers who guard their charges as if they were their own children.
Others have chosen to make Singapore their home, some have married here, some have left but still come back to visit often because they thoroughly enjoyed their stay here.
I think it's great that these people have assimilated so well within our culture and get along with the locals well.
It's just those who don't bother to observe or understand our laws and ways who irk me.
Good Ol' Milo
I had a milo craze last year. It’s back again and I’ve been having a cup of Milo each morning for the last one to two weeks.
Think I need to stop drinking too much of it before it adds more kilos on my frame…
Think I need to stop drinking too much of it before it adds more kilos on my frame…
Monday, May 31, 2010
Ee-Poh
Ee-Poh.
Is what I call my grandaunt.
THE BACKGROUND
It happened quite unexpectedly and over just a short period of time. I guess it took everyone by surprise.
My grandaunt was hospitalized on a Thursday morning, 20 May. She was discharged by the same evening and given medication to expel excess liquid from her lungs and legs. She went home and all was fine.
Come Saturday 22 May, she had a panic attack, couldn’t control her bowels, couldn’t breathe properly and was sent to A&E. She was warded and had to go for an immediate heart op the next afternoon to clear a blockage they found in a major artery. They did the operation but right after it, they realized it wasn’t working and wasn’t doing much for the blockage.
And so they performed a second consecutive bypass surgery immediately after the initial heart op. She came out and was put into ICU and was doing okay up till the next day. She could speak. But on the second day after the op, she suddenly deteriorated. Organs started failing. Bowel, spleen, kidneys all stopped working. Body couldn’t get rid of toxins. Liver was failing as well.
And at 320am 26 May, she passed on. At the age of 86.
It was a sudden affair. I remember I had trouble sleeping after I received the SMS shortly after at 345am that morning.
THE 4 OF THEM
I was close to my grandaunt when I was in primary school. She came over every Saturday or Sunday to play mahjong at my place. She was fortunate enough to have had education when she was little. Girls of those days rarely had the chance to go to school.
There are four of them siblings. My grandmother, the eldest at 94 now, followed by a brother aged 91 now, followed by my grand aunt who was aged 86 and then the youngest granduncle who is 82 now and still plays tennis regularly.
The 4 of them. Now minus one.
My Dad mentioned before that once the old folks pass on, much of the CNY visiting won't happen anymore.
SIGH
The thing that hits me the most during this whole episode is that we cannot tell my grandmother of this. Don’t think she can take the news.
As it is, I think my grandmother felt it on the night my grandaunt passed on. Call it sixth sense or what. I don't know.
Apparently she woke the very next morning and started crying alot. She was crying the entire morning. The nursing home folks told us that she insisted on going to see her younger sister. She even told them that her younger sister has passed on.
How could she know? When none of us told her? When none of the nursing home folks even knew what happened?
I was in the midst of arranging a lunch for my grandmother and my grandaunt. I thought it would be a good idea for them two old sisters to sit down and have lunch together, with some of us grandchildren around. I’d already contacted my cousins and brother and we'd even settled on a date already….30 May.
But alas, the lunch was not to take place.
Is what I call my grandaunt.
THE BACKGROUND
It happened quite unexpectedly and over just a short period of time. I guess it took everyone by surprise.
My grandaunt was hospitalized on a Thursday morning, 20 May. She was discharged by the same evening and given medication to expel excess liquid from her lungs and legs. She went home and all was fine.
Come Saturday 22 May, she had a panic attack, couldn’t control her bowels, couldn’t breathe properly and was sent to A&E. She was warded and had to go for an immediate heart op the next afternoon to clear a blockage they found in a major artery. They did the operation but right after it, they realized it wasn’t working and wasn’t doing much for the blockage.
And so they performed a second consecutive bypass surgery immediately after the initial heart op. She came out and was put into ICU and was doing okay up till the next day. She could speak. But on the second day after the op, she suddenly deteriorated. Organs started failing. Bowel, spleen, kidneys all stopped working. Body couldn’t get rid of toxins. Liver was failing as well.
And at 320am 26 May, she passed on. At the age of 86.
It was a sudden affair. I remember I had trouble sleeping after I received the SMS shortly after at 345am that morning.
THE 4 OF THEM
I was close to my grandaunt when I was in primary school. She came over every Saturday or Sunday to play mahjong at my place. She was fortunate enough to have had education when she was little. Girls of those days rarely had the chance to go to school.
There are four of them siblings. My grandmother, the eldest at 94 now, followed by a brother aged 91 now, followed by my grand aunt who was aged 86 and then the youngest granduncle who is 82 now and still plays tennis regularly.
The 4 of them. Now minus one.
My Dad mentioned before that once the old folks pass on, much of the CNY visiting won't happen anymore.
SIGH
The thing that hits me the most during this whole episode is that we cannot tell my grandmother of this. Don’t think she can take the news.
As it is, I think my grandmother felt it on the night my grandaunt passed on. Call it sixth sense or what. I don't know.
Apparently she woke the very next morning and started crying alot. She was crying the entire morning. The nursing home folks told us that she insisted on going to see her younger sister. She even told them that her younger sister has passed on.
How could she know? When none of us told her? When none of the nursing home folks even knew what happened?
I was in the midst of arranging a lunch for my grandmother and my grandaunt. I thought it would be a good idea for them two old sisters to sit down and have lunch together, with some of us grandchildren around. I’d already contacted my cousins and brother and we'd even settled on a date already….30 May.
But alas, the lunch was not to take place.
Friday, May 21, 2010
ARGH
Frustrated.
Boss asked The Coll to liase with a partner for a joint promo. The Coll, by the way, is as flexible as a slab of concrete.
Partner is vomiting blood dealing with The Coll and her restrictive ways.
Partner comes to me for help and says they do not want to deal with her. They have half a mind to tell the boss they do not want to work with her.
Partner pours out their frustrations to me. I understand totally. I try to help out a little but maintain that The Coll is the point of contact for this promotion.
To me, a joint promotion should be a win-win situation for both parties. Not a one-sided affair.
I speak to boss and suggest some things. Boss agrees with me and says he will get The Coll to do the necessary to get things done.
Partner emails The Coll and cc-es me in the discussion.
The Coll is not happy and told me. “They should be dealing with me, not you. I am the one writing the approval paper.”
Sigh.
I am not giving suggestions for personal glory. What the hell. I’m just trying to get things done and moving. Promotions should be done on the ball and quickly. Not sat upon and incubated for weeks when things can be settled within 4 days.
Sigh. The boss of the partner company just told me “I hope she stops making a fool of herself.” Strong words. Such strong words. And I am caught in the middle.
How to work like that? Fragile grounds on both sides.
Boss asked The Coll to liase with a partner for a joint promo. The Coll, by the way, is as flexible as a slab of concrete.
Partner is vomiting blood dealing with The Coll and her restrictive ways.
Partner comes to me for help and says they do not want to deal with her. They have half a mind to tell the boss they do not want to work with her.
Partner pours out their frustrations to me. I understand totally. I try to help out a little but maintain that The Coll is the point of contact for this promotion.
To me, a joint promotion should be a win-win situation for both parties. Not a one-sided affair.
I speak to boss and suggest some things. Boss agrees with me and says he will get The Coll to do the necessary to get things done.
Partner emails The Coll and cc-es me in the discussion.
The Coll is not happy and told me. “They should be dealing with me, not you. I am the one writing the approval paper.”
Sigh.
I am not giving suggestions for personal glory. What the hell. I’m just trying to get things done and moving. Promotions should be done on the ball and quickly. Not sat upon and incubated for weeks when things can be settled within 4 days.
Sigh. The boss of the partner company just told me “I hope she stops making a fool of herself.” Strong words. Such strong words. And I am caught in the middle.
How to work like that? Fragile grounds on both sides.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Straits Times Article
Wow, even this gets a mention in the papers. Gosh. Don't they have better things to report???
=======
Travolta's 2 dogs killed
BANGOR (Maine) - A SERVICE vehicle at Maine's Bangor International Airport has struck and killed two dogs owned by John Travolta.
The city says the accident happened after an airplane carrying members of Travolta's family landed early last Thursday and the dogs were being walked. The city issued the statement after the Bangor Daily News newspaper confirmed the accident through an e-mail from the city manager to the City Council.
A Travolta spokesman hasn't returned a telephone message left on Monday seeking comment.
The Saturday Night Fever and Pulp Fiction actor is an accomplished pilot who often flies to Bangor while en route to his home on Islesboro, off the Maine coast. It's unclear whether he was in the cockpit the night his dogs died. -- AP
Friday, May 14, 2010
Of foam and bristles
I was brushing my teeth after lunch. An auntie came into the washroom, did whatever she had to do and then came to wash her hands next to my basin.
She started talking to me.
Gosh. Do I look like I’m in a position to hold a proper conversation? When my mouth is filled with foam and toothpaste?
She: Oh you do this everyday ah?
Me: *smiles a foamy toothpaste outlined smile and nods*
She: Wah really ah? You’re very well-kept hor! So hardworking!
Me: *think for a split second* (well-kept? Is this the right phrase to be used to describe what I am doing? I’ve heard of well-kept secrets and well-kept mistresses who are well-kept secrets but hmm…..)
Me: *another foamy smile*
She: You use something special issit? Some kind of creamy thing?
Me: ?????????
Me: *picks up the tube of COLGATE toothpaste on my basin and shows it to her*
She: Oh okok. Only Colgate ah? I thought you’re using some special cream or what….
Me: *gives a foamy grimace*
She: Ok lah, I’ll go back to office first.
Me: *continues brushing*
She started talking to me.
Gosh. Do I look like I’m in a position to hold a proper conversation? When my mouth is filled with foam and toothpaste?
She: Oh you do this everyday ah?
Me: *smiles a foamy toothpaste outlined smile and nods*
She: Wah really ah? You’re very well-kept hor! So hardworking!
Me: *think for a split second* (well-kept? Is this the right phrase to be used to describe what I am doing? I’ve heard of well-kept secrets and well-kept mistresses who are well-kept secrets but hmm…..)
Me: *another foamy smile*
She: You use something special issit? Some kind of creamy thing?
Me: ?????????
Me: *picks up the tube of COLGATE toothpaste on my basin and shows it to her*
She: Oh okok. Only Colgate ah? I thought you’re using some special cream or what….
Me: *gives a foamy grimace*
She: Ok lah, I’ll go back to office first.
Me: *continues brushing*
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Counsellors & Controllers
A personality survey I did in March last year left quite an impression on me because I found it rather accurate. According to that theory, there are 4 types of people: Controllers, Counsellors, Engineers and …blah, I cannot remember the fourth type but it doesn’t matter in the context of this post…
Counsellors. Softer in nature, more approachable. Mediator. Concilliatory. Avoids conflicts. Tends to internalize thoughts. Generally the peace-maker.
Controllers. Wants to be in control and be seen in control. Tend to impose their views on others but not always in an uncompromising manner. Speaks up, speaks out, speaks more.
Engineers. Straight and less flexible compared to the other types. Rigid and unyielding at times. Less creative. Everything by the book.
It’s easy to tell which of the above I am. I am a “Counsellor”. I had a little of the other traits, but the test indicated that I was mainly a Counsellor. At least 80-90%.
It’s a little difficult. Working in a team where there’s a majority of Controllers and some Engineers around. Each having their ways of doing things. Each insisting on their views. Each wanting things to be done this way and not that way.
Recently, another Controller joined my team. He’s now the dominant Controller because he’s had more experience and greater knowledge. Loud voice too. He can be quiet and contemplative when mulling over an issue but when he wants to make a point known. He’ll talk the whole room down. And he sure can probe as hell. His questions strategically placed in conversations. One of those whom you know the mind is on a constant whir of activity. And one of those whom you find it hard to tell if he has a hidden agenda or not.
But, he is smart and very capable.
The team’s been plagued by MCs, reservists, child sick leave and blah blah. So we’ve been operating on a half-strength from time to time. When it gets back to the days when all are around in the office, I wonder if there’ll be more work discussions and disagreements on how to move forward.
Come to think of it, I think I actually am surrounded by a lot of Controllers. Whether in work or personal life. Haha…do Counsellors attract Controllers?
Counsellors. Softer in nature, more approachable. Mediator. Concilliatory. Avoids conflicts. Tends to internalize thoughts. Generally the peace-maker.
Controllers. Wants to be in control and be seen in control. Tend to impose their views on others but not always in an uncompromising manner. Speaks up, speaks out, speaks more.
Engineers. Straight and less flexible compared to the other types. Rigid and unyielding at times. Less creative. Everything by the book.
It’s easy to tell which of the above I am. I am a “Counsellor”. I had a little of the other traits, but the test indicated that I was mainly a Counsellor. At least 80-90%.
It’s a little difficult. Working in a team where there’s a majority of Controllers and some Engineers around. Each having their ways of doing things. Each insisting on their views. Each wanting things to be done this way and not that way.
Recently, another Controller joined my team. He’s now the dominant Controller because he’s had more experience and greater knowledge. Loud voice too. He can be quiet and contemplative when mulling over an issue but when he wants to make a point known. He’ll talk the whole room down. And he sure can probe as hell. His questions strategically placed in conversations. One of those whom you know the mind is on a constant whir of activity. And one of those whom you find it hard to tell if he has a hidden agenda or not.
But, he is smart and very capable.
The team’s been plagued by MCs, reservists, child sick leave and blah blah. So we’ve been operating on a half-strength from time to time. When it gets back to the days when all are around in the office, I wonder if there’ll be more work discussions and disagreements on how to move forward.
Come to think of it, I think I actually am surrounded by a lot of Controllers. Whether in work or personal life. Haha…do Counsellors attract Controllers?
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
Mind Over Body!
I share a close office environment with about 4 other colleagues. 3 of them have taken turns to fall sick with high fever and cough…another one sitting slightly further away is away on long MC with chicken pox.
I hope I’m strong enough! Can’t fall sick with an exam in 3 weeks and my house renovation stuff happening!
I hope I’m strong enough! Can’t fall sick with an exam in 3 weeks and my house renovation stuff happening!
Monday, April 26, 2010
:(
One of the main reasons why I have not coloured my hair at a salon for the last 5 years at least....
Is that it never turns out nice to me.
The ones that somehow end up looking alright on my head...are those DIY packages which can be bought for 10% of the price you pay at the salon.
I did my hair yesterday. Permed it again. It fried my hair a little.
Considering I didn't give it enough rest since the last perm.
I highlighted it too. I should have insisted on a brownish colour. Safe colour for me considering that I'm tanned. The fella told me to try a deep magenta...a shade of red, in layman terms. I told her I prefer browns. She said to try something new..I thought ok lah. Fuck it and just do it.
So now I have red highlights.
I need to remind myself that whenever I say "fuck it and just do it" for hair colouring. It never does turn out right.
I don't like it.
Hell I'm considering if I should get a DIY pack and cover it all up.
I want my natural hair colour back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Is that it never turns out nice to me.
The ones that somehow end up looking alright on my head...are those DIY packages which can be bought for 10% of the price you pay at the salon.
I did my hair yesterday. Permed it again. It fried my hair a little.
Considering I didn't give it enough rest since the last perm.
I highlighted it too. I should have insisted on a brownish colour. Safe colour for me considering that I'm tanned. The fella told me to try a deep magenta...a shade of red, in layman terms. I told her I prefer browns. She said to try something new..I thought ok lah. Fuck it and just do it.
So now I have red highlights.
I need to remind myself that whenever I say "fuck it and just do it" for hair colouring. It never does turn out right.
I don't like it.
Hell I'm considering if I should get a DIY pack and cover it all up.
I want my natural hair colour back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
I've got a friend
I've got a friend. A fun-loving 21-yr-old young girl prone to crazy shrieks and mad giggles.
She's listed as a Portugese in her identity card. But looks like a girl from China.
She was born in Hong Kong. But spent the latter half of her life in Singapore.
She speaks English like any Singaporean. But can't speak enough Mandarin to save her own ass (like alot of other Singaporeans haha).
She's petite at 1.58m. But her voicebox is a loudhailer in its own right.
She is learning French. But also intends to learn German and Korean.
She can kick any guys' ass flat with her jujitsu skills. But she's also into scrap-booking.
She loves food. But doesn't eat pork, can't take seafood, doesn't eat chicken, cannot take much spicy food and doesn't like vegetables.
If I were her, I'd be terribly confused by now.
She's listed as a Portugese in her identity card. But looks like a girl from China.
She was born in Hong Kong. But spent the latter half of her life in Singapore.
She speaks English like any Singaporean. But can't speak enough Mandarin to save her own ass (like alot of other Singaporeans haha).
She's petite at 1.58m. But her voicebox is a loudhailer in its own right.
She is learning French. But also intends to learn German and Korean.
She can kick any guys' ass flat with her jujitsu skills. But she's also into scrap-booking.
She loves food. But doesn't eat pork, can't take seafood, doesn't eat chicken, cannot take much spicy food and doesn't like vegetables.
If I were her, I'd be terribly confused by now.
Sunday, April 04, 2010
blogging
I have not been writing in here very regularly. Interest is waning.
Even if I do write, it's on trivialities and mundane issues and uninteresting matters.
So really...why write? Why blog anymore when I've got nothing better to say?
Hmm....
There are times when I have a sudden inspiration during the day or when I'm on my way to work, or when I'm walking somewhere and I see something......I'll tell myself "Ok, I'll write on that!"
But when I sit in front of the PC hours later, I find that that moment of inspiration has come and gone. Lost to the wind. And I'll be sitting in front of the PC feeling empty again with nary a clue of what to write.
That's right. Emptiness. Not knowing what to write, to say, to feel, to think.
I wonder how an author feels when he/she gets writers' block.
Even if I do write, it's on trivialities and mundane issues and uninteresting matters.
So really...why write? Why blog anymore when I've got nothing better to say?
Hmm....
There are times when I have a sudden inspiration during the day or when I'm on my way to work, or when I'm walking somewhere and I see something......I'll tell myself "Ok, I'll write on that!"
But when I sit in front of the PC hours later, I find that that moment of inspiration has come and gone. Lost to the wind. And I'll be sitting in front of the PC feeling empty again with nary a clue of what to write.
That's right. Emptiness. Not knowing what to write, to say, to feel, to think.
I wonder how an author feels when he/she gets writers' block.
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